Sir: Denis Brogan's visit to Bologna la grassa (29 November)
seems to have made him neglect Bologna la dotta ('the learned,' the city's other invariable epithet).
San Petronio isn't the cathedral of Bologna, though admittedly it looks as though it ought to be. That position is held by S. Pietro in via dell' Indipendenza. Don Giovanni didn't chase any woman perche (which wouldn't mean any- thing) but purche ('provided that') porti la gon- nella. King Enzo wasn't the grandson but the son of Frederick II.
Incidentally, to the visiting Scot 11 Resto del Carlin° may suggest Aberdonian thrift. To the locals it strikes a slightly harsher note. The Bolognese who promises it to his child is threatening him with the equivalent of 'a four. pennyone.'
John Lai ner Department of History, The University, 61,1,.. gow W2
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